Car-step.



' (No Model.)

W. a. PERRY. CAB STEP.

(Applic ation filed June 29, 1900.)

Patented Ian. 22, ham.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

51 n 00 ntoz G Ho 14441 No. 666,437. Patented Jan. 22,'|9o|.

w. H. PERRY. I

GAB STEP.

' [Application filed June 29, 1900 (No Model.)

Price.

WILLIAM HERBERT PERRY, OF AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK.

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,437, dated January 22, 1901. Application filed June 29,1900 Serial No. 10 (N0 model-l T0 00% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HERBERT PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway-car steps, the object being to provide supplemental adjustable steps and improved means for raising and lowering the same.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and its novel features will be defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section, partly in elevation, of a car-platform and steps equipped with my invention; and Fig. 2 isa similar View of a modification.

The reference-numeral 1 designates the carplatform, from each side of which depends a stationary stairway 2. To the lower portion of each of the stairways is secured an adj ustable stepB, comprising an inclined back 4, parallel sides 4, and the horizontal board or step proper, 3. The steps 3 are suspended from the lower stationary steps 5 by means of inclined rods 5", having their lower ends secured to the steps 3 and their upper headed ends extending through bearings 6, secured to the steps 5, and through openings in the steps registering with said bearings.

On the inner side of each of the back boards 4 is secured a rack-bar 7, adapted to mesh with a toothed quadrant 8, said quadrants being pivotally secured to the lower ends of the bracket-arms 9, depending from the under side of the platform and connected by a transverse brace 1O.

11 designates a vertical shaft extending through an opening in the platform and provided at its upperend with acrank-handle 12. The shaft is enlarged circumferentially below the platform to constitute a drum 13, to which are secured the innerends of fourchains l4 and '15, the outer ends of which are secured to the quadrants 8, on opposite sides of the pivotal supports thereof. The shaft 11 is supported at its lower end in a bearing 11 suspended from the under side of the car. Upon the shaft 11, above the platform I, is mounted a ratchet-wheel 16, adapted to be engaged by pivoted dogs or pawls 17. A collar 18 on the shaft 11, below the platform, limits the upward movement of the shaft.

The operation of the mechanism as thus described is as follows: To raise the steps 3, the shaftis turned to wind the chains laround the drum, thus throwing the upper ends of the quadrants inward. The engagement of the teeth of the quadrants with the rack-bars 7 raises the latter and with them the lower steps 3. A reverse movement of the shaft 11 will lower the steps 3, as will be apparent from the illustration. The lower chains 15 unwind as the upper chains 14 are wound around the drum 13, and vice versa.

While I preferably employ a revoluble shaft 11 and crank 12 to operate the toothed quadrants, I would have it understood that a lever might be employed for the purpose and all such further changes and modifications resorted to as may fall within the scope of the following claims.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the platform is provided with a central passage 11, which necessitates the location of the shaft 11 at one side of the passage-way. The construction shown in Fig. 2 is in all essential respects the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that the location of the shaft 11 at one side of the center of the platform necessitates the shortening of the chains 14: and 15 at one side of said shaft and the lower end of the shaft is supported in a bearing 11, suspended below the car floor by an inclined rod or bracket 11.

I claim- 1. The combination with a car-platform, and stationary steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step having a back board, and parallel sides; a guide-rod secured to the supplemental step, and extending through an opening in the lower stationary step; a rack secured to the back board; a toothed quadrant pivotally supported below the platform; and means for operating said quadrant, comprising a revoluble shaft, and chains secured at their inner ends to the shaft and at their outer ends to the quadrant.

2. The combination with a car-platform,

of inclined stationary steps depending from a revolnble vertical crank-shaft enlarged at rd opposite sides of the platform; supplemental its lower end; and chains connecting said steps adjust-ably supported below the stationshaft with the quadrants.

ary step, each having a back board and side In testimony whereof I affix my signature pieces; a rack secured to each of said back in presence of two witnesses.

boards; means for guiding the movement of WILLIAM HERBERT PERRY. the supplemental steps; bracketarms de- Witnesses: pending from the platform; toothed quad- BURTON FISHER,

rants pivotally secured to said bracket-arms; 1 HENRY V. CASE. 

